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Pet Health Columns

Experts on animal health from the college's clinics in Urbana and Chicago share their knowledge in informative columns written for animal owners. Scan the categories and tags at left for topics that interest you.

Too much cortisol can have negative impacts. Cortisol is a steroid hormone, or “glucocorticoid,” that is normally released by the body in response to waking up in the morning, exercise, pain, and stress. Although cortisol is necessary for the body to function properly, too much cortisol can have negative impacts on people and pets alike....

The holidays are a potentially dangerous time of the year for pets. Dr. Tina Wismer, an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, is also a veterinarian at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. She says the call volume there increases by about 10 percent during the holidays. The...

Heart disease is the No. 4 cause of death in dogs, according to Dr. Ryan Fries, a veterinary cardiologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of heart problems in pets can vary widely. “Congenital heart disease—ones the animal is born with—can sometimes lead to heart...

Natural disasters can strike at any time, so it is essential to have a plan in place to be ready. According to Dr. Yvette Johnson-Walker, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, emergency preparedness plans should cover the animals as well as the people in a home....

Think a veterinary degree prepares you only to vaccinate dogs and cats? The career path of Dr. Maureen Birmingham will make you think again. Recently, the 1983 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine spoke to students at her alma mater in Urbana, Ill. Describing herself as a “fortunate victim of a...

Ever thought about getting a pet rabbit, but aren’t quite sure how to take care of them? Dr. Kenneth Welle, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana who sees exotic pets—birds, reptiles, and small mammals—on a daily basis, explains how to properly care for a rabbit. Dr. Welle recommends adopting...

Orthopedic surgeons at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana are able to use images captured through computed tomography (CT) to print three-dimensional models to assist in planning surgeries. “3D printing is a new technology that is very exciting for our hospital,” says Dr. Karanvir Aulakh, who is board certified in small animal...

Something was wrong with Otter. The two-year-old dog had a strange, domed skull that had progressed since he was a puppy. The face appeared normal but his forehead protruded out quite far. His owners had noticed he was uncharacteristically quiet lately. Could it be cancer? Although Otter’s local veterinarian knew it was unlikely to find...

Athlete sidelined with an injured tendon, ligament, or a chip fracture of a carpal bone? Surgery may or may not be part of the treatment, but rehabilitation therapy most likely is–whether the athlete has two legs or four. “Physical therapy and rehabilitation play an important role in performance enhancement, injury prevention, and restoration of full...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 55,000 people die each year worldwide due to the rabies virus. Although most of these deaths occur outside of the United States, it is still important to understand the seriousness this disease poses to humans and pets. September 28 has been declared “World Rabies...